I
had a dream that started out with me sitting in a church's big conference, watching a video presentation on the history of
the congregation. Then, I overheard some people next to me talking about the terrorist acts they were planning to carry out
in the name of Jesus. I was quite disturbed, and actually tried to cast demons out of these folks. Then the scene changed
abruptly. Suddenly...
I was outside, watching the weather darken as a
massive storm approached. There were many people roaming around, and it seemed to me that it was obvious to everyone that
there was great danger coming. However, I somehow knew that the destruction of the impending storm was going to be much more
serious than what others understood.
I had a band
of friends who I was hanging out with, and I quickly led them into the school building that was attached to the church I had
just been in. I knew we had to seek shelter in the school's gymnasium, but I did not know where. I somehow sensed that a tornado
was approaching that would tear off the roof of this building. So I decided to seek refuge on a floor lower to the gym.
As I walked with
my friends, I could not seem to find a place that felt safe enough. We kept searching for a room or an area that was somehow
a little bit lower than the rest, but I was always sure that the suction of the tornado would still reach us. One or two of
my friends disagreed with me though, and they curled up in a corner on a level that they thought was down deep enough.
Along my way,
I happened to find a few other people who were straggling through the building. They joined my group and went looking with
us. At the same time, I became aware that hundreds of people were starting to run into the building as the rains began to
pour down outside.
At last, my companions
and I discovered a dressing room for the school's theatre. It was the lowest floor, and I finally felt secure there. Then
the scene changed again.
Now, I was searching
for safety once more, but I was outside. My companions and I quickly came across a big ditch, and huddled over to it. We felt
it would be adequate to hide us, though it would soon fill with water from the rain. So we hunkered down and rested.
I believe
God has given me an interpretation for this dream:
At this point
in the Church's history, the love of many is growing cold. Some believers are even advocating violence on behalf of Christendom's
enemies. The Lord is drawing His elect people though into the school of the Spirit, urging us to go deep in our devotion to
God. As we press in to know Him more, we grow more and more secure in the face of the apocalyptic
events that are coming.
Some believers
will remain shallow in their faith, and seek to play with the most basic blessings available to them. Yet this will not be
enough to protect their souls when the going gets rough. Only those who have entered the “dressing room,” and
put on the full armor of God, will be truly okay. These will be confident in their identity in Christ, robed in righteousness.
Those who will
survive this season of trouble will be the ones who humble their hearts, bending themselves to receive the spiritual flood
that is coming in the end-time revival. As Laura Hackett sings, “Your river rushes to the lowest place!” It may
seem uncomfortable at times, but God's glorious presence is where true peace will be guaranteed. Some will stop short of their
destiny, but we must not be among them. We are to move further, and learn to be like Christ – who slept in the midst
of the storm. Others will follow us as we enter into His place of rest.
